Palace: Kill-Noy plot no diversionary ploy

Malacañang on Saturday brushed aside claims that talk of a supposed assassination plot against President Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III is part of a ploy to divert public attention from controversies hounding the administration. Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma said alleged assassination plots are too serious a matter for the Palace to use as a gimmick. “Wala naman intention ang pamahalaan gumamit ng diversionary tactics sapagkat ang pangulo ay committed sa katotohanan at sa isang accountable government. Wala siyang ganyang intention at walang ganyang ginagawa," Coloma said on government-run dzRB radio. (There is no intention by this government to turn a serious matter into a diversionary tactic. Besides, Aquino is committed to a truthful and accountable government. He has no such intention, much less plot.) The government has been at the center of major controversies including the Aug. 23 Manila hostage tragedy and alleged payoffs officials get from the illegal numbers game jueteng. Besides, Coloma said the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ intelligence operatives will immediately verify any such plot to kill the president. “We go by the principle that the president’s security enjoys the highest priority," he said in Filipino. Earlier this week, the Department of National Defense belied there is a “concrete" plot to kill Aquino. DND spokesman Eduardo Batac questioned statements made by Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano that a group linked to the robbery and kidnap gang Kuratong Baleleng is reportedly plotting to kill the President. Emano was initially quoted as saying Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin claimed Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, former leader of the Kuratong Baleleng Gang, is involved in the supposed plot to kill the President. Batac said Emano quoted Gazmin “out of context," adding Gazmin only answered Emano’s question about “possible threats" against the President during their conversation last Tuesday. Parojinog likewise denied the report that he is plotting to kill the President. He said he cannot kill a person, much less the country’s highest government official. — LBG, GMANews.TV